ADVERTISE in GPWEEK For more details CLICK HERE to access a HuGE global audience THE F1 teams were back in Europe last week, conducting their first group test of the 2008 season at the Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona. The agendas for all the teams were two-fold: putting new 2008 developments through their paces ready for the start of the European season, and putting newly updated Bridgestone slick tyres through their own testing programme on cars stripped down to 2009-spec downforce levels. With so many teams (everyone bar Super Aguri) and no restriction as to how and when the slick tyres were to be used, the times from the test ultimately taught us very little. For example, while Massa’s Day 1 dominance came as the Scuderia premiered its all-new nose hole innovation (see separate story), he also achieved his times on slick tyres and a 2008 aero package. McLaren’s Pedro de la Rosa, meanwhile, also tested slicks on that first day, but was three seconds behind Massa, thanks to his running under simulated 2009 aero regulations. The test saw a number of significant developments to a number of 2008 cars, not least with Ferrari’s innovative nose hole. Renault premiered its latest development of a Red Bull-esque engine cover fin, while underneath its new look covering a now de rigeur J damper was also reportedly fitted to the car. Honda, too, was busy testing new parts. The team experimented with trimmed down versions of its 2007 “dumbo ears” on its nose box, and also, along with Renault, ran front wheel discs. Toro Rosso meanwhile had its first run out of its brand new 2008 car. The STR03 is strikingly similar to the RB4. Sebastien Bourdais declared himself very happy with the new car, before he stacked it into a tyre barrier and called a premature end to the team’s test. Back to the future Slick tyres and no aero make a debut in Barcelona Tuesday 15 April 1. Massa Ferrari 1:18.339 2. Wurz Honda 1:21.059 3. de la Rosa McLaren-Mercedes 1:21.566 4. Heidfeld BMW-Sauber 1:21.679 5. Piquet Renault 1:22.125 6. Coulthard Red Bull-Renault 1:22.197 7. Nakajima Williams-Toyota 1:22.431 8. Glock Toyota 1:22.590 9. Liuzzi Force India-Ferrari 1:22.846 Wednesday 16 April 1. Barrichello Honda 1:18.928 2. Fisichella Force India-Ferrari 1:19.721 3. Massa Ferrari 1:20.283 4. Coulthard Red Bull-Renault 1:20.392 5. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1:20.452 6. Alonso Renault 1:20.616 7. Rosberg Williams-Toyota 1:20.800 8. Glock Toyota 1:20.870 9. Heidfeld BMW-Sauber 1:20.981 Thursday 17 April 1. Alonso Renault 1:18.483 2. M.Schumacher Ferrari 1:19.323 3. Sutil Force India-Ferrari 1:19.424 4. Kubica BMW-Sauber 1:19.785 5. Rosberg Williams-Toyota 1:19.841 6. Barrichello Honda 1:19.920 7. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1:20.591 8. Bourdais Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1:20.715 9. Webber Red Bull-Renault 1:20.849 10. Trulli Toyota 1:20.867 Friday 18 April (Wet) 1. Webber Red Bull-Renault 1:21.953 2. Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes 1:23.589 3. Raikkonen Ferrari 1:23.619 4. Kubica BMW-Sauber 1:24.715 5. Button Honda 1:24.873 6. Nakajima Williams-Toyota 1:24.927 7. Piquet Renault 1:26.100 8. Trulli Toyota 1:32.150